Cheylesmore Neighbourhood Forum

Action Notes

Held on Tuesday 16 September 2014

Who was at the meeting?

Residents Adele Ball Karen Band D Bell Richard Bell Robert Bristow Ralph Butcher K Chamberlain Margaret Chown Susan Cole Phil Consadine Dan Corbould Jenny Cosser D Crunden Matthew Davies Peter Davies Mary Davies Jas Dosanjh Wendy Eades Kath Edwards Frances Fielding P George John Graham Stephanie Graham D Gupta John Hartley Derek Howey Michael Irvin A Johnson Paul Kneafsey Sheila Knight Colin Lacey Pauline Leng-Ward Nigel Makepeace Niall McChesney Keith McDonnell M McDonnell Andrew Meredith Hilary Meredith Mark Pay Lynne Page Judith Robbins Christine Sanderson Mary Sandwell Martin Sandwell J Scouller Molly Shortland Gary Shrapnell B Slaymaker Janet Spencer J Stevens Garry Stewart Alan Summerton Jean Takher Jeremy Thomas Paul Townsend Beatrice Upham P Venables JB Ward G Winter Paul Wood No of Residents: 60

Officers and Partner Agencies Name Representing Councillor R Bailey Coventry City Council – Ward Councillor (Chair) Councillor H Noonan Coventry City Council – Ward Councillor Councillor Brown Coventry City Council – Ward Councillor Simon Brake Coventry City Council – Senior Support Officer Claire Carding Coventry City Council – Support Officer Sgt C Harris West Midlands Police – Cheylesmore NPT Insp S Baker West Midlands Police – Cheylesmore NPT Andrew Jackman Deputy Head of Traffic and Transportation - CCC Nigel Bromage Community Development Officer – CCC

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Paul Boulton Head of Traffic and Transportation Jim Newton Acting Head of Planning – CCC

1. Welcomes and Introductions

Councillor Bailey welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked everyone for their attendance, and formally thanked Cllr Noonan for her efforts in being Chair of the forum previously.

2. Apologies

Apologies were received from Janet Makepeace, Mr Rowe, Graham and Hazel Hill

3. Actions from previous meeting and matters arising

Discussion: Is the following statement regarding HS2 correct. ‘There was also pressure on the existing rail network from a growth in freight traffic. Predictions suggest an extra 80 freight trains per day per direction (in and out of Coventry) by 2030.’ Simon Brake will investigate return with an answer. Conclusion: The minutes from the previous meeting were agreed as accurate.

4. 106 Monies

Discussion: £150,000 has been paid to the Council on 28 August 2014. The money can be used for the following “towards the cost of providing expanding improving or maintaining community facilities (which may include the purchase and improvement of land and buildings) within the vicinity of the property” Residents were asked what they would like the money to be spent on and the following suggestions were put forward.

Cheylesmore Community Centre: would like to improve the entrance, car park, disabled access and expand the nursery, as well as providing facilities/classes for over 4000 children and continued support for the community would be invaluable. Architects plans were also shown as illustration of improvements. Cheylesmore Allotments: The Allotment Association would like £12k to improve fences, gates and provide a social hut along with plans to regenerate the area so it can be used to educate local children to grow their own food and which can be used by future generations. A proposal has been drawn up and was submitted to the Chair for consideration. Quinton Park and Pool: many residents nominated the park with the following suggestions: • Any improvement that is sustainable so there is no reliance on the

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council or money to be raised for maintenance. • There is a path on one side of the pool, it would be helpful to extend that all the way around the pool • The pool to be cleaned and a fountain added to help keep the water from stagnating Karate Club at Cheylesmore Community Centre: would like to improve its classes by providing more resources such as crash mats. Grumblesmiles Charity: support isolated and lonely older people and to keep their charity sustained for the next three 3 years, they are requesting £10k start up help to get on their feet and start to be self funding. Black Prince Road: Add speeding signs that show what speed vehicles are driving at to help reduce speeding. Quinton Park Toilets: to be refurbished or demolished and replace for future use.

It was asked whether the Asda store would have toilet facilities available and Cllr Noonan confirmed that no facilities were included in the planning application.

Cllr Brown also suggested that a ‘friends of Quinton Park’ association be set up to facilitate communication with the council and also help with distribution of funding, if allocated. Cllr Brown offered to assist with setting this up.

Simon Brake reminded residents that there is still opportunity to submit more suggestions, either to the Councillors or directly to Simon.

Conclusion: Cllr Bailey thanked everyone for their very detailed suggestions. A meeting will be held before the next Neighbourhood Forum to discuss the allocation of some money as not all monies will be allocated immediately to give chance to for later projects to also be considered.

5. Police Update

Discussion: Inspector Baker informed residents that there is a consultation regarding estates management of the current buildings used by West Midlands Police in Coventry. Two stations are current at a good standard and are working efficiently, these being Willenhall and Canley. Other stations will have to be reviewed. A presentation detailing the consultation will be made available after the meeting. There are also feedback forms available to offer any comments that can be returned to Inspector Baker or Simon Brake.

Residents asked the following questions: Q: Could you sell off the building next to Willenhall Station?

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Q: Will the City Centre Station be closed? Q: Is it true that City Centre will be merged with Foleshill Station? A: All these questions will be considered during the review and consultation will end at the end of November ready for a submission to the Police Command Team and the Police and Crime Commissioner in December 2014.

Sergeant Chris Harris presented the crime statistics for the area as follows: Overall there has been a 3% decrease in crime (11 less offences) for the same time last year. Robbery: 3 offences since April Burglary: Has increased to 47 since April, however the majority of these were due to insecure premises. Theft of motor vehicles: 3 offences since April Theft from motor vehicles: mostly seasonal crime, and a reminder in the run up to Christmas to ensure your valuables are not displayed in your car.

Cllr Bailey asked what the benchmark is for the city and the answer is no more than two burglaries per week.

A resident reported that some dogs at Quinton Pool were not on leads and have been encouraged to run into the poll to retrieve sticks. This has led to three geese and one duck being killed. Inspector Baker said she would brief her officers to be extra vigilant during their rounds. It was also suggested that the Council improve signage around the pool too. Simon Brake will investigate and report to the Rangers.

A resident reported the speed on Leaf Lane is still an issue due to increased roadworks around the area, even though the speed limit has been reduced to 20MPH. The Police confirmed that they have received more calls regarding this, however there has been no increase in accidents.

A resident reported a confusing speed sign on the slip road coming off the A45. It states 60MPH, but it is a 30MPH zone where you have to stop at a junction at the end of the road.

A resident complained about delivery lorries parking on the corner to offload to Londis. This has been reported and Londis have been co- operative.

A resident wanted to thank the Police for their Public Liaison day regarding Daventry Road shops, it was well received.

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Conclusion: Cllr Bailey thanked Insp Baker and Sgt Harris for attending the meeting.

6. Residents Parking Scheme

Discussion: Andrew Jackman presented the outcome of the recent consultation regarding the parking scheme, which will be made available after the meeting.

The consultation was split into two areas, Cheylesmore West which received a 45% response and Cheylesmore East which received a 26% response.

The outcome of the consultation is that Cheylesmore East did not have a sufficient response to carry out the scheme so it will not be proceeding. Cheylesmore West will be split into three areas, Adare Drive, Hiron Croft, Townsend Road and Townsend Croft are not proceeding, Michaelmas Road & The Hiron will be reviewed and all other roads will be under another consultation and will be implemented if 60% approval response is received.

Residents raised the following concerns and questions: • Dissatisfaction of the difference in schemes when they had specifically requested a permit only scheme and the waste of time and money it has taken to now administer a second consultation regardless of their original request. • Major concerns about parking on Orchard Crescent and Humphrey Burton Road. • A resident from St Michaels ward attended the meeting as he lives in Stoney Road and is affected by the issues in the Cheylesmore ward. He expressed his frustration at being asked to pay £20 for a parking scheme that should be covered by 106 monies. • One resident asked if any of the council officers have actually been to any of the roads affected by the parking to see how bad it is. • There is also frustration around the increase in rented houses in the area and therefore this will affect response rates to the consultations and put permanent residents at a disadvantage, due to the percentage needed to go ahead with the schemes. Why isn’t the Council dealing with Multiple Occupancy housing? • As the City Council’s Friargate building will also affect the area, it was suggested that the shared bay parking consultation was in the interest of the Council and residents were not heard regarding their views on resident only parking. • The specification for the parking scheme in Earlsdon has been seen and residents’ think it is better than what has been proposed in Cheylesmore.

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• Now that the consultation for Cheylesmore East has not received a sufficient response rate, does that mean no more plans going forward? • Is there enough parking for Friargate? • Will there be any further provision for improvement for the Park and Ride facility? • When bars and restaurants are opened at Friargate the area will be flooded at night time too.

Responses to the concerns and questions were as follows: • The consultation on shared bays was put forward due to a similar scheme in nearby areas • The traffic flow on Humphrey Burton Road has reduced due to the bus gate. – Residents disagree. • Views have been taken into account and now a further consultation is going ahead to address those views. • Cheylesmore East scheme will only be considered again if there is a massive drive to reintroduce the scheme is put forward. • The parking at Friargate is legislative driven, therefore the council does not have an influence on the outcome of parking. • There might be possibilities to improve Park and Ride provision.

Conclusion: Cllr Bailey thanked Andrew Jackman for his presentation and also thanked all residents for their input.

7. Update on Highways Projects

Discussion: Cllr Bailey introduced Paul Bolton, Head of Traffic and Transportation to give an update and presentation on Friargate, Whitley Bridge and Toll Bar End. Alan Jones from Galliford Try was also present to give a briefing on Toll Bar End.

Friargate The Council have been monitoring traffic flow on Quinton Road and also buses on Park Road and since the last meeting • Warwick Road closed for 12 months • Old J6 structures demolished • Piling for new bridge completed • New beam installation commenced Future milestones • Drainage to start Sept • Beam installation complete by Nov • Bridge deck from Jan • Warwick Road re-open end of March

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• Station access and forecourt

Whitley Bridge Since last meeting: • Start on site in July • Temporary traffic management in place • 20 mph restriction on Leaf Lane • Removal of central reservation to create new lanes Future milestones: • Piling for new bridge to start Sept / Oct • Install new beams from Nov • New junction open in Spring 2015

Some of the pilings have been installed at night which is disrupting residents. It was confirmed that this would be fed back to the construction team.

Toll Bar End – introduced by Alan Jones Going ahead as planned and now starting on moving utilities which is a major job. Lane management has been taking place at night and at off peak times to ensure the least amount of disruption.

Resident feedback is that the traffic management has been superb under the circumstances of the huge project. Some days since work has been started there, they have got through quicker!

Conclusion: Cllr Bailey thanked Paul Boulton and Alan Jones for their updates.

8. Any Other Business

Discussion: The Council’s budget cuts are affecting all areas of service provision and therefore these forums are under review. If these meetings were no longer held, how would you like to interact with the council?

Residents are keen for this forum to continue as face to face contact is important, although things could be done differently around the city depending on the outcome of the review. It was unanimous that the forum continue.

One last question was raised regarding the process of the Gateway Review and Cllr Noonan confirmation that both Coventry City Council and Warwickshire District Council had approved the plans however it is still being reviewed by the Secretary of State in the government and a final decision will be known by December 2014. Conclusion: Cllr Bailey thanked everyone for their attendance and lively discussions.

www.coventry.gov.uk/neighbourhoodforums Action Notes

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